SAFE roads connecting regional communities will be a benefit of the state budget, Goulburn MP Pru Goward has said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Goward announced the Goulburn electorate would receive NSW Government funding as part of round two of Fixing Country Roads.
Wingecarribee Shire Council will receive $160,400 in state funding for bridge assessments throughout the local government area.
"This funding will help council assess the capacity and condition of bridges with a view to opening up the transport network," she said.
"It is so important that our community has safe roads, connecting our local communities, so that our loved ones can make it home safe and sound."
Ms Goward said she was proud to be part of a government that recognised the importance of connecting regional communities with a commitment to better local infrastructure.
Round two of Fixing Country Roads includes a $50 million investment in the 2016/2017 State Budget and is additional to the $43 million commitment in Round one.
"260 million tonnes of freight are moved across regional NSW each year - improving the way we do this is vital to supporting continued growth across the state," Ms Goward said.
"Six projects in the Goulburn electorate have been successful in obtaining Fixing Country Roads Round Two funding.
"The benefits of round one are already being realised 'on the ground' with about 75 per cent of projects either open or near completion."
Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said there was no other program in the history of the state that delivered benefits to councils, local businesses, communities and regional industries like Fixing Country Roads did.
"By building better infrastructure on council owned roads and bridges - we are getting product to market quicker - cutting costs right across the supply chain including on supermarket shelves."
Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said projects like Fixing Country Roads were critical to supporting local economies and the state.
She said the announcement demonstrated a commitment to provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure regional NSW could continue to thrive.
The $50 million round two installment is part of a $500 million commitment for Fixing Country Roads from Rebuilding NSW, with funding to be progressively made available by the NSW Government.
All Fixing Country Roads funding allocations are determined by an expert Independent Assessment Panel, including Local Government NSW, Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, NSW Farmers, NRMA.
Projects not selected by the panel in this round may be able to access funding in future rounds.
For more information please visit www.freight.transport.nsw.gov.au/